The Benefits of Plant-Based Packaging
With consumers of plant-based food and beverage products showing greater concern for the environment, brands need packaging that reflects this sentiment.
This package is tailored specifically for vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, and those with food intolerances or allergies.
Biodegradable
Plant-based packaging materials are an obvious choice for sustainable packaging, offering heat resistance, durability and printing compatibility – not to mention biodegradability for reduced carbon emissions and use of less toxic chemicals during production processes. As such, this option has multiple environmental and business image benefits.
Plant-based plastics reduce our reliance on petroleum, yet do not address plastic pollution or guarantee safe end-of-life for your package. Many plant-based plastics cannot decompose in landfills and require special conditions to spoil; furthermore, they may contaminate soil and water resources – thus making it essential to select certified compostable products.
Other companies are exploring algae-derived plastics. Uluu, a start-up funded by CSIRO and creating film-like plastic alternatives from algae, has successfully used them in sauce sachets made of sauce, liquid or alcohol; without access to fresh water for growth, they can even be harvested remotely from remote regions.
Recyclable
Polylactic acid (PLA) has become an increasingly popular choice for food packaging thanks to its ability to bind carbon dioxide during its growth process and renew itself continuously. Producing PLA also requires less raw materials and energy than traditional plastics while emitting fewer greenhouse gases into the environment.
Wheat straw and sugarcane biomass have also become increasingly popular as food packaging options, being biodegradable and compostable in commercial facilities and cost-effective sources of raw materials. An added benefit is that these materials don’t contain harmful additives and can even act as fertilisers – plus, home compostable items can carry the “OK Compost Home” stamp for easy identification!
Compostable
Compostable plant-based packaging offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics. Constructed using natural ingredients derived from plants and other renewable agricultural, aquatic or forestry inputs, then transformed into various products or packaging forms using these natural components; biodegradable and an eco-friendly choice as opposed to synthetic ones.
The plant-based packaging industry is expanding quickly. Consumer demand has skyrocketed, and many companies are switching to eco-friendly products such as plant-based containers for food storage or even straws and containers that use plant-based material as insulation.
As opposed to conventional plastic packaging that takes more than 500 years to break down and often winds up as microplastics in our oceans, compostable plant-based packaging can be broken down in less than 90 days into biodegradable materials that can be used as fertiliser in farming or horticulture and contain no toxic chemicals.
For a material to qualify as compostable, it must satisfy certain criteria, including certification by a reputable authority. Two widely acknowledged certifications of compostable materials are ASTM D6400 and EN 13432; these standards help ensure a product will decompose in commercial composting facilities while still breaking down in-home compost bins and meeting all EPA regulations regarding food contact.
The plant-based packaging industry is experiencing remarkable growth and innovation. One company called noissue produces mailers made entirely from plant-based resources like corn stalks, wheat straw or bamboo that are 100% compostable and biodegradable. They utilise both biodegradable polymer PBAT as well as plant-derived PLA resin.
Eco-friendly
Packaging made of plant material is an eco-friendly choice that uses renewable resources instead of non-sustainable petrochemicals that harm the environment throughout their lifespan – from extraction, refinement, distribution and disposal. Furthermore, eco-friendly packaging biodegrades naturally without emitting harmful chemicals into the atmosphere as regular plastic does.
Reduce your ecological impact further by purchasing smaller boxes and bags for shipping or adapting product dimensions. Hence, they fit more compactly in smaller containers, saving money on packing supplies and transportation costs while decreasing carbon emissions.
Plant-based products and packaging are often designed with end-of-life solutions in mind. For instance, some are constructed of recycled plastics that have been certified to biodegrade safely in compost bins – this eliminates concerns over food contamination in recycling streams and helps limit harmful plastic waste accumulation.
Plant-based packaging can help businesses build brand loyalty while simultaneously protecting the environment. According to research, consumers increasingly consider sustainability when making purchase decisions – this trend will likely continue as more people recognise the advantages of purchasing sustainable products.